2019 -- H 6241

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LC002890

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - DECLARATIONS OF CANDIDACY

     

     Introduced By: Representative Arthur J. Corvese

     Date Introduced: June 21, 2019

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 17-14-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-14 entitled "Nomination

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of Party and Independent Candidates" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     17-14-1. Declarations of candidacy.

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     During the last consecutive Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in June April in the even

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years and during the thirty-ninth (39th) and fortieth (40th) days preceding a primary election for a

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special election, or for an election regularly scheduled for a time other than the biennial general

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statewide election, each voter desiring to be a candidate at the upcoming primary or an

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independent candidate on final nomination papers shall, on a form that shall be provided by the

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secretary of state, file a declaration of his or her candidacy not later than four (4:00) p.m. of the

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last day for the filing with the secretary of state for congressional and statewide general offices,

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or with the local board of the place of the candidate's voting residence for general assembly, or

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state committee or senatorial and representative district committee or with the appropriate local

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board for local officers. The declaration shall be signed by the candidate as his or her name

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appears on the voting list. The signature shall be accepted as valid if it can be reasonably

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identified to be the name and signature of the voter it purports to be. A variation of the voter's

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signature by the insertion or omission of identifying titles or by the substitution of initials for the

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first or middle names of both shall not in itself be grounds for invalidation of the signature. The

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declaration shall also include the following information:

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     (1) The candidate's name as it appears on the voting list, subject to the same provisions as

 

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relate to the voter's signature on the declaration;

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     (2) The address as it appears on the voting list, provided that an address which is

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substantially the same as the address on the voting list shall be valid;

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     (3) The party declaration if seeking to run in a party primary;

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     (4) The office sought;

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     (5) The place and date of birth;

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     (6) The length of residence in the state and in the town or city where he or she resides;

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     (7) A certification that he or she is neither serving a sentence, including probation or

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parole, for which he or she was imprisoned upon final conviction of a felony imposed on any date

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nor serving any sentence, whether incarcerated or suspended, on probation or parole, upon final

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conviction of a felony committed after November 5, 1986;

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     (8) A certification that he or she has not been lawfully adjudicated to be non compos

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mentis, of unsound mind;

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     (9) In the case of candidates for party nomination, a certification that he or she has not

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been a member of a political party other than the declared party within ninety (90) days of the

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filing date; and

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     (10) If a person is a candidate for a state or local office, a certification that the person has

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not within the preceding three (3) years served any sentence, incarcerated or suspended, on

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probation or parole, for a crime committed after November 5, 1986, upon a plea of nolo

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contendere or guilty or upon a conviction of a felony or for a misdemeanor for which a sentence

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of imprisonment for six (6) months or more, whether suspended or to be served as imposed.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - DECLARATIONS OF CANDIDACY

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     This act would change the month in which candidates for public office are required to

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declare their candidacy from June to April.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC002890

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